Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure provide a method for fabricating a semiconductor device. The method includes forming dummy power rails on a substrate by accessing from a first side of the substrate that is opposite to a second side of the substrate. Further, the method includes forming transistor devices and first wiring layers on the substrate by accessing the first side of the substrate. The dummy power rails are positioned below a level of the transistor devices on the first side of the substrate. Then, the method includes replacing the dummy power rails with conductive power rails by accessing from the second side of the substrate that is opposite to the first side of the substrate.

Abstract: Methods and structures that include a vertical-transport field-effect transistor. First and second semiconductor fins are formed that project vertically from a bottom source/drain region. A first gate stack section is arranged to wrap around a portion of the first semiconductor fin, and a second gate stack section is arranged to wrap around a portion of the second semiconductor fin. The first gate stack section is covered with a placeholder structure. After covering the first gate stack section with the placeholder structure, a metal gate capping layer is deposited on the second gate stack section. After depositing the metal gate capping layer on the second gate stack section, the placeholder structure is replaced with a contact that is connected with the first gate stack section.

Abstract: Methods for forming a cut between interconnects and structures with cuts between interconnects. A layer is patterned to form first, second, and third features having a substantially parallel alignment with the second feature between the first feature and the third feature. A sacrificial layer is formed that is arranged between the first and second features and between the second and third features. The sacrificial layer is patterned to form a cut between the first and second features from which a portion of the sacrificial layer is fully removed and to form a cavity in a portion of the sacrificial layer between the second and third features. A dielectric layer is formed inside the cut between the first and second features. After depositing the section of the dielectric material and forming the dielectric layer, the sacrificial layer is removed.

Abstract: Methods for forming a cut between interconnects and structures with cuts between interconnects. A layer is patterned to form first, second, and third features having a substantially parallel alignment with the second feature between the first feature and the third feature. A sacrificial layer is formed that is arranged between the first and second features and between the second and third features. The sacrificial layer is patterned to form a cut between the first and second features from which a portion of the sacrificial layer is fully removed and to form a cavity in a portion of the sacrificial layer between the second and third features. A dielectric layer is formed inside the cut between the first and second features. After depositing the section of the dielectric material and forming the dielectric layer, the sacrificial layer is removed.

Abstract: A three-dimensional (3D) integrated circuit (IC) includes a substrate having a substrate surface, a power rail provided in the substrate, and a first tier of semiconductor devices provided in the substrate and positioned over the power rail along a thickness direction of the substrate. A wiring tier is provided in the substrate, and a second tier of semiconductor devices is provided in the substrate and positioned over the wiring tier along the thickness direction. The second tier of semiconductor devices is stacked on the first tier of semiconductor devices in the thickness direction such that the wiring tier is interposed between the first and second tiers of semiconductor devices. A first vertical interconnect structure extends downward from the wiring tier to the first tier of semiconductor devices to electrically connect the wiring tier to a device within the first tier of semiconductor devices.

Abstract: A semiconductor device is provided. The device includes a plurality of transistor pairs that are stacked over a substrate. Each of the plurality of transistor pairs includes a n-type transistor and a p-type transistor that are stacked over one another. The device also includes a plurality of gate electrodes that are stacked over the substrate with a staircase configuration. The plurality of gate electrodes are electrically coupled to gate structures of the plurality of transistor pairs. The device further includes a plurality of source/drain (S/D) local interconnects that are stacked over the substrate with a staircase configuration. The plurality of S/D local interconnects are electrically coupled to source regions and drain regions of the plurality of transistor pairs.

Abstract: A semiconductor device is provided. The semiconductor device includes a transistor stack having a plurality of transistor pairs that are stacked over a substrate. Each transistor pair of the plurality of transistor pairs includes a n-type transistor and a p-type transistor that are stacked over one another. The plurality of transistor pairs have a plurality of gate electrodes that are stacked over the substrate and electrically coupled to gate structures of the plurality of transistor pairs, and a plurality of source/drain (S/D) local interconnects that are stacked over the substrate and electrically coupled to source regions and drain regions of the plurality of transistor pairs. The semiconductor device further includes one or more conductive planes formed over the substrate. The one or more conductive planes are positioned adjacent to the transistor stack, span a height of the transistor stack and are electrically coupled to the transistor stack.

Abstract: Original cell design rule violations with respect to a second wiring layer are identified, while conductors of the second wiring layer are in an original position. The conductors of the second wiring layer are offset into different offset positions, and then the process of identifying violations is repeated for each of the offset positions. With this, metrics are generated for the original cell for the original position and each of the offset positions. Then, the original cell or the pitch of the second wiring layer are altered to produce alterations. The processes of identifying violations, offsetting conductors in the second wiring layer, repeating the identification of violations for all offsets, and generating metrics are repeated for each of the alterations. The original cell or one of the alterations is then selected, based on which cell produces the lowest number of violations of the design rules.

Abstract: A vertical FinFET includes a semiconductor fin formed over a semiconductor substrate. A self-aligned first source/drain contact is electrically separated from a second source/drain contact by a sidewall spacer that is formed over an endwall of the fin. The sidewall spacer, which comprises a dielectric material, allows the self-aligned first source/drain contact to be located in close proximity to an endwall of the fin and the associated second source/drain contact without risk of an electrical short between the adjacent contacts.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device is provided including forming raised source and drain regions on a semiconductor layer, forming a first insulating layer over the semiconductor layer, forming a first contact to one of the source and drain regions in the first insulating layer, forming a second insulating layer over the first contact, forming a trench in the second insulating layer to expose the first contact, removing a portion of the first contact below the trench, thereby forming a recessed surface of the first contact, removing a portion of the first insulating layer, thereby forming a recess in the trench and exposing a portion of a sidewall of the first contact below the recessed surface of the first contact, and filling the trench and the recess formed in the trench with a contact material to form a second contact in contact with the first contact.

Abstract: Methods and structures that include a vertical-transport field-effect transistor. First and second semiconductor fins are formed that project vertically from a bottom source/drain region. A first gate stack section is arranged to wrap around a portion of the first semiconductor fin, and a second gate stack section is arranged to wrap around a portion of the second semiconductor fin. The first gate stack section is covered with a placeholder structure. After covering the first gate stack section with the placeholder structure, a metal gate capping layer is deposited on the second gate stack section. After depositing the metal gate capping layer on the second gate stack section, the placeholder structure is replaced with a contact that is connected with the first gate stack section.

Abstract: A semiconductor device at least one first transistor of a first type disposed above a substrate and comprising a channel wider in one cross-section than tall, wherein the first type is a PFET transistor or an NFET transistor; and at least one second transistor of a second type disposed above the at least one first transistor and comprising a channel taller in the one cross-section than wide, wherein the second type is a PFET transistor or an NFET transistor, and the second type is different from the first type. Methods and systems for forming the semiconductor structure.

Abstract: Disclosed is a semiconductor structure that includes a vertical field effect transistor (VFET) with a U-shaped semiconductor body. The semiconductor structure can be a standard VFET or a feedback VFET. In either case, the VFET includes a lower source/drain region, a semiconductor body on the lower source/drain region, and an upper source/drain region on the top of the semiconductor body. Rather than having an elongated fin shape, the semiconductor body folds back on itself in the Z direction so as to be essentially U-shaped (as viewed from above). Using a U-shaped semiconductor body reduces the dimension of the VFET in the Z direction without reducing the end-to-end length of the semiconductor body. Thus, VFET cell height can be reduced without reducing device drive current or violating critical design rules. Also disclosed is a method of forming a semiconductor structure that includes such a VFET with a U-shaped semiconductor body.

Abstract: Disclosed is a semiconductor structure that includes a vertical field effect transistor (VFET) with a U-shaped semiconductor body. The semiconductor structure can be a standard VFET or a feedback VFET. In either case, the VFET includes a lower source/drain region, a semiconductor body on the lower source/drain region, and an upper source/drain region on the top of the semiconductor body. Rather than having an elongated fin shape, the semiconductor body folds back on itself in the Z direction so as to be essentially U-shaped (as viewed from above). Using a U-shaped semiconductor body reduces the dimension of the VFET in the Z direction without reducing the end-to-end length of the semiconductor body. Thus, VFET cell height can be reduced without reducing device drive current or violating critical design rules. Also disclosed is a method of forming a semiconductor structure that includes such a VFET with a U-shaped semiconductor body.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods of forming improved fin-type field effect transistor (FINFET) structures and, particularly, relatively tall single-fin FINFET structures that provide increased drive current over conventional single-fin FINFET structures. The use of such a tall single-fin FINFET provides significant area savings over a FINFET that requires multiple semiconductor fins to achieve the same amount of drive current. Furthermore, since only a single fin is used, only a single leakage path is present at the bottom of the device. Thus, the disclosed FINFET structures can be incorporated into a cell in place of multi-fin FINFETs in order to allow for cell height scaling without violating critical design rules or sacrificing performance.

Abstract: In a self-aligned fin cut process for fabricating integrated circuits, a sacrificial gate or an epitaxially-formed source/drain region is used as an etch mask in conjunction with a fin cut etch step to remove unwanted portions of the fins. The process eliminates use of a lithographically-defined etch mask to cut the fins, which enables precise and accurate alignment of the fin cut.

Abstract: The disclosure provides integrated circuit (IC) structures with single diffusion break (SDB) abutting end isolation regions, and methods of forming the same. An IC structure may include: a plurality of fins positioned on a substrate; a plurality of gate structures each positioned on the plurality of fins and extending transversely across the plurality of fins; an insulator region positioned on the plurality of fins and laterally between the plurality of gate structures; at least one single diffusion break (SDB) positioned within the insulator region and one of the plurality of fins, the at least one SDB region extending from an upper surface of the substrate to an upper surface of the insulator region; and an end isolation region abutting a lateral end of the at least one SDB along a length of the plurality of gate structures, the end isolation region extending substantially in parallel with the plurality of fins.

Abstract: A vertical FinFET includes a semiconductor fin formed over a semiconductor substrate. A self-aligned first source/drain contact is electrically separated from a second source/drain contact by a sidewall spacer that is formed over an endwall of the fin. The sidewall spacer, which comprises a dielectric material, allows the self-aligned first source/drain contact to be located in close proximity to an endwall of the fin and the associated second source/drain contact without risk of an electrical short between the adjacent contacts.

Abstract: In the manufacture of a semiconductor device, electrical interconnects are formed by depositing a dielectric layer over source/drain regions, and forming a continuous trench within the dielectric layer. The trench may traverse plural source/drain regions associated with adjacent devices. The electrical interconnects are thereafter formed by metallizing the trench and patterning the metallization layers to form discrete interconnects over and in electrical contact with respective source/drain regions. The source/drain interconnects exhibit a reentrant profile, which presents a larger contact area to later-formed conductive contacts than a conventional tapered profile, and thus improve manufacturability and yield.

Abstract: A vertical FinFET includes a semiconductor fin formed over a semiconductor substrate. A self-aligned first source/drain contact is electrically separated from a second source/drain contact by a spacer layer that is formed over an endwall of the fin. The spacer layer, which comprises a dielectric material, allows the self-aligned first source/drain contact to be located in close proximity to an endwall of the fin and the associated second source/drain contact without risk of an electrical short between the adjacent contacts.